September

May as well try to catch up...Meet Charlie, our darling, red-headed, sweeter-than-sugar nephew. We did. His mom brought him for a visit to start September off right. Thanks, Annie. We love you!!
Yuck. Everyone knows we have 2 honorary members of our family--Gumby, our hedgehog and Shadow, our snake. But what you don't know is that I have to find these pictures on my camera EVERY WEEK. I go hide in my room so I don't have to watch, but always get these lovely recaps. I get that it's nature. I get that nature can be fascinating. But really? Every week? Of course every week--I have 5 boys! And the sixth, their dad, is right there with them. So I have to include this in the journal of our family life. :) #2 and his Dad went to 5th grade camp. They had the most ridiculously-fun-adventurous-exhilerating-bonding time ever. #2 and his friend read the entire bustrip (anyone surprised?), but after that it was all grand adventure--petting wild animals, riding horses, exploring in canoes, learning about birds of prey, and more. Mike even managed to have lights out at 10. How does he do that??

Here is the zip line they did--and LOVED. #2 is always game!

#2 also got his Webelos badge at pack mtg. He did all the work for it in less than 6 months, and it is usually a 2 year program. This is one enthusiastic scouter!

#3 got his Wolf badge done just 4 months after he started scouts. He literally asked every day what he could do for scouts over the summer, so we got tons done. I love that my great friend, Krista, #3's scout leader (and mom of his best bud) was in the pic!

Quotable: One day I was cooking dinner when #4 came and asked to sing me a song. He sang something like: "Everyday when I go to school I feel crushed. I feel crushed because none of my friends will play with me. All my friends from kindergarten have new friends and don't want to play with me." Wow. He finished, smiled, and asked, "Did you like my song?" Not-so-funny, I know, but very like my sweet #4. The update is that we've talked a lot, and the playground is becoming more fun all the time.